Hydrogen and Transportation

Tables 2,3, and 4 outline many of the physical and thermodynamic properties ofpara- and normal hydrogen in the sohd, hquid, and gaseous states, respectively. Extensive tabulations of all the thermodynamic and transport properties hsted in these tables from the triple point to 3000 K and at 0.01—100 MPa (1—14,500 psi) are available (5,39). Additional properties, including accommodation coefficients, thermal diffusivity, virial coefficients, index of refraction, Joule-Thorns on coefficients, Prandti numbers, vapor pressures, infrared absorption, and heat transfer and thermal transpiration parameters are also available (5,40). Thermodynamic properties for hydrogen at 300—20,000 K and 10 Pa to 10.4 MPa (lO " -103 atm) (41) and transport properties at 1,000—30,000 K and 0.1—3.0 MPa (1—30 atm) (42) have been compiled. Enthalpy—entropy tabulations for hydrogen over the range 3—100,000 K and 0.001—101.3 MPa (0.01—1000 atm) have been made (43). Many physical properties for the other isotopes of hydrogen (deuterium and tritium) have also been compiled (44).

Whereas most of the technology for hydrogen production, transportation, and usage is viable as of 1994, research efforts are needed to make them more economically attractive. 

The most striking feature of the earth, and one lacking from the neighboring planets, is the extensive hydrosphere. Water is the solvent and transport medium, participant, and catalyst in nearly all chemical reactions occurring in the environment. It is a necessary condition for life and represents a necessary resource for humans. It is an extraordinarily complex substance. Stmctural models of Hquid water depend on concepts of the electronic stmcture of the water molecule and the stmcture of ice. Hydrogen bonding between H2O molecules has an effect on almost every physical property of Hquid water. 

The U.S. military specification, M1L-P-27201B, requires 95% para content, 99.995% minimum hydrogen by difference, 50 vppm maximum total imputities, 9 vppm maximum combined nitrogen, water, and volatile hydrocarbons, 1 vppm maximum combined oxygen and argon, 39 vppm maximum helium, 1 vppm maximum carbon monoxide and dioxide, and a 10/40 micrometers nominal /absolute particulate filtration level. Liquid hydrogen is stored in double-walled vessels with evacuated pedite or multilayer insulation and transported in similarly insulated 50,000-L trailers or 900,000-L barges. 

A Perkin-Elmer 5000 AAS was used, with an electrically heated quartz tube atomizer. The electrolyte is continuously conveyed by peristaltic pump. The sample solution is introduced into the loop and transported to the electrochemical cell. A constant current is applied to the electrolytic cell. The gaseous reaction products, hydrides and hydrogen, fonued at the cathode, are flowed out of the cell with the carrier stream of argon and separated from the solution in a gas-liquid separator. The hydrides are transported to an electrically heated quartz tube with argon and determined under operating conditions for hydride fonuing elements by AAS. 

Nakamura, Takagi and Ueno have also utilized 4 -nitrobenzo-l 5-crown-5 as a starting material Their goal was the formation of a colored crown which could be utilized in transport studies. They have prepared 4 -picrylaminobenzo-l 5-crown-5 for this purpose in the following way. 4 -Nitrobenzo-l 5-crown-5 was hydrogenated and then picryl chloride was added. Nucleophilic aromatic substitution apparently ensued (deep red color) and the product was th n isolated by standard techniques as a yellow solid (mp 155°, max 395 nm) in 72% yield as shown in Eq. (3.17). 

When relatively small amounts of hydrogen are required, perhaps in remote locations such as weather stations, then small transportable generators can be used which can produce I-I7m h. During production a 1 1 molar mixture of methanol and water is vaporized and passed over a base-metal chromite" type catalyst at 4(X)°C where it is cracked into hydrogen and carbon monoxide subsequently steam reacts with the carbon monoxide to produce the dioxide and more hydrogen ... 

Several authors " have suggested that in some systems voids, far from acting as diffusion barriers, may actually assist transport by permitting a dissociation-recombination mechanism. The presence of elements which could give rise to carrier molecules, e.g. carbon or hydrogen , and thus to the behaviour illustrated in Fig. 1.87, would particularly favour this mechanism. The oxidant side of the pore functions as a sink for vacancies diffusing from the oxide/gas interface by a reaction which yields gas of sufficiently high chemical potential to oxidise the metal side of the pore. The vacancies created by this reaction then travel to the metal/oxide interface where they are accommodated by plastic flow, or they may form additional voids by the mechanisms already discussed. The reaction sequence at the various interfaces (Fig. 1.87b) for the oxidation of iron (prior to the formation of Fe Oj) would be... 

Because the metallic hydrides release their hydrogen (as H2 gas) when heated or treated with acid, they are being investigated for storing and transporting hydrogen. Both saline and metallic hydrides have the high enthalpy densities desirable in a portable fuel. 

The Industrial Revolution was made possible by iron in the form of steel, an alloy used for construction and transportation. Other d-block metals, both as the elements and in compounds, are transforming our present. Copper, for instance, is an essential component of some superconductors. Vanadium and platinum are used in the development of catalysts to reduce pollution and in the continuing effort to make hydrogen the fuel of our future. 

Why Do We Need to Know This Material All life on Earth is based on carbon so is the fuel we burn, our food, and the clothes we wear. Therefore, to understand a major part of the everyday world, we need to be familiar with the chemistry of this extraordinary element. Compounds of carbon and hydrogen are the foundation of the petrochemical industry petroleum products are used to generate electricity and to heat our homes. They are also used to make the flexible, strong polymeric and composite materials that make modern communication and transportation possible. 

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